The Taste of the Town will return for another round of food, fun and culinary competition.

Back for the 16th year, the Taste will play host to a/snumber of musicians, restaurant competition, food sampling and Tuscaloosa Idol, April Sledge, on Aug. 16 at Shelton State Community College.

The signature event of United Cerebral Palsy of West Ala-/sbama Inc., the Taste raises money every year for services that help people with cerebral palsy, such as early inter-/svention, child care training and home support.

"We serve [more than] 480 children and adults with/sdisabilities, such as cerebral/spalsy in West Alabama," said Tony Franklin, executive director of UCPWA. "Though on the/snational average three quarters of a million children and adults have cerebral palsy."

Cerebral palsy is a term that describes a group of chronic conditions that affect speech, body movement and muscle coordination.

It generally occurs when/sbabies suffer brain injury/sduring the fetal stage and during birth,

"People with cerebral palsy can do 90 percent of the things everyone else can do," Franklin said. "They can go to school, have jobs, get married and have families."

Jimmy Osmore, Taste of the Town head coordinator, and Shelton State instructor, said he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when he was 9 months old. He is 41.

"UCPWA treats people with disabilities with dignity we/sseldom get," Osmore said. "They work with people that no one would normally being/sdoing anything with. If we [UCPWA] didn't do what we do, people with disabilities would be at home doing nothing.

"Every year the Taste becomes more fun and it helps a worthy cause."

More than 25 restaurants will be competing in six categories: best beverage, best dessert, best candy, best entrée, best/sappetizer and best in show.

The winners will be awarded plaques and will be honored in a ceremony on Aug. 23.